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The only solution I've found for this lack is, as seems to be the norm on so many common functions, a multi-step work-around. Since using the "click on the beginning, shift-click on the end" usually has me tapping around like a blind person feeling for the curb, I've started first placing a guide where I want to draw the straight line. Then the click, shift-click works fine. But the more usual method of "click, hold down a modifier and draw" would be so much simpler.

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I just switched from Adobe Photoshop to Affinity Photo. I agree with those requesting the ability to hold shift to ensure that I can make vertical and horizontal lines only...that would be so much easier than the current method.

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Being a Photoshop user for over 12 years and recently moved on to Affinity.
Beside it's a very promising software, it also lacks in several features - this one mentioned above is one of them and I must say, it's a pretty damn important one. So if you would be so kind to implement it as soon as possible, you will make the world a better place

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Modifier key to set the line by click-drag. Then release and you've set the angle. Draw your line, or lines, then Modifier click again to dismiss the constrain.

Simple and incredibly useful for precise accurate work.

I understand the utility in the method you describe, but I do think there is also value in the simpler approach as well, as it is less cumbersome and more fluid for sketching purposes, allowing for gradual layering of value, coverage, grain, gradients, while also not interrupting the overall experience of drawing as much as a procedure that would require multiple steps (in your case it would be a matter of initiating a "press", "align" and "release" action with your fingers in that order, as opposed to just a "press" or a "release" at the respective ends of the period spent working in the constrained mode).

It is also worth keeping in mind that, as demonstrated in Corel Painter, 45-degree diagonal angles could easily be supported as well within the same modifier-behaviour utilised in Photoshop. Straight lines could also be made arbitrarily by clicking between end points with the modifier key activated.

Perhaps there is a way to enable all solutions, depending on the users preferences?